Your GP, or other healthcare professional, will generally no longer give you a prescription for over the counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns.

This is because of national guidance introduced in 2018 to reduce the amount of money the NHS spends on prescriptions for treating minor conditions that usually get better on their own.

Over the counter medicines are those that are available to buy from your local pharmacy or supermarket. In the year prior to June 2017, the NHS spent around £569 million a year on prescriptions for over the counter medicines.

This includes prescriptions for a range of minor health concerns, including:

  • Self-limiting conditions (will heal or be cured without treatment)
  • Conditions which lend themselves to self-care (don’t usually require medical advice)
  • Some vitamins, minerals or probiotics

The cost to the NHS for many of the medicines used to treat minor conditions are often higher than the prices for which they can be purchased over the counter.  This is because there are hidden costs when a medicine is prescribed. For example, a pack of 16 paracetamol 500mg tablets can be purchased for less than 50p from a pharmacy or supermarket, but the cost to the NHS is around three times as much.

The NHS Birmingham and Solihull policy Conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care outlines the reasons for this change, which include:

  • Reducing the amount the NHS spends on over the counter medicines allows funding of treatments for more serious conditions, such as cancer, diabetes and mental health problems to be prioritised.
  • Reducing the number of general practice appointments for conditions which are suitable for self-care releases more appointments for people with long term and serious health conditions.
  • Patients can take more control over their own health, using the skills of highly trained community pharmacists if they wish to do so.

The team of health professionals at your local pharmacy can offer help and clinical advice to manage minor health concerns and if your symptoms suggest it’s more serious, they’ll ensure you get the care you need.

Similar policies are being implemented across England. You can find out more on the NHS website.

The Conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care policy covers the following conditions:

  • Acute sore throat
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Coughs, colds and nasal congestion
  • Cradle cap (seborrhoeic dermatitis – infants)
  • Dandruff
  • Diarrhoea (adults)
  • Dry eyes/sore (tired) eyes
  • Earwax
  • Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
  • Haemorrhoids
  • Head lice
  • Indigestion and heartburn
  • Infant colic
  • Infrequent cold sores of the lip
  • Infrequent constipation
  • Infrequent migraine
  • Insect bites and stings
  • Mild acne
  • Mild cystitis
  • Mild dry skin
  • Mild irritant dermatitis
  • Mild to moderate hay fever/seasonal rhinitis
  • Minor burns and scalds
  • Minor conditions associated with pain, discomfort and/fever. (e.g. aches and sprains, headache, period pain, back pain)
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Nappy rash
  • Oral thrush
  • Prevention of dental caries
  • Ringworm/athletes foot
  • Sunburn
  • Sun protection
  • Teething/mild toothache
  • Threadworms
  • Travel sickness
  • Warts and verrucae

Other items covered by the policy

  • Probiotics
  • Vitamins and minerals